The Bold Color Combo Princess Diana & Meghan Markle Have Worn Is A Big Summer 2026 Trend
According to conventional wisdom, colors that sit next to each other on the color wheel shouldn't be worn together; opposing colors, like yellow and purple or blue and orange, are more harmonious. Very little that Princess Diana did was conventional, however, from her approach to her royal duties to her fashion sense. As a result, Lady Di thumbed her nose at this stuffy rule by stepping out in red and purple on a trip to Hong Kong in 1989, creating a fabulous look.
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Thirty years later, the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, paid tribute to her dearly departed mum-in-law with her iconic celebrity maternity fashion. During a 2019 visit to England's Hamilton Square, the former "Suits" star — then six months pregnant with Prince Archie — appeared in vivid shades of scarlet and amethyst. She brought the look into the new millennium by streamlining the color blocks and toning down its intensity with a subdued brown handbag, but the vibe is pure people's princess.
Red and purple is a big summer 2026 trend
Despite — or perhaps because of — red and purple's unexpected appeal, it's emerged as the victor of the battle of the summer color combos. It was all over the runways at Paris Fashion Week in July 2026 as well as on celebrities everywhere from the Cannes Film Festival (hello, Dua Lipa) to New York City (we see you, Zoey Deutsch). It would seem that those royal colors have reached far beyond the British Empire.
If you're interested in ditching your basic summer neutrals for these trending colors, think like Princess Diana and Meghan Markle and keep them balanced. Notice how both shades occupy an equal amount of space for each of their outfits, from Diana's purple hat and red hatband and then her red jacket/purple skirt combo to Meghan's more minimalist purple dress and red trench coat. If you're worried that summer's almost over, it's not too late. Thanks to the richness of these hues, this is one summer 2026 trend that will seamlessly transition into fall.